diff --git a/wp-admin/includes/plugin.php b/wp-admin/includes/plugin.php
index 32a37f106a..92743086f4 100644
--- a/wp-admin/includes/plugin.php
+++ b/wp-admin/includes/plugin.php
@@ -1388,8 +1388,9 @@ function add_submenu_page( $parent_slug, $page_title, $menu_title, $capability,
 
 		$submenu[ $parent_slug ][] = $new_sub_menu;
 	} else {
-		// If position is equal or higher than the number of items in the array, append the submenu.
-		if ( $position >= count( $submenu[ $parent_slug ] ) ) {
+		// Append the submenu if the parent item is not present in the submenu,
+		// or if position is equal or higher than the number of items in the array.
+		if ( ! isset( $submenu[ $parent_slug ] ) || $position >= count( $submenu[ $parent_slug ] ) ) {
 			$submenu[ $parent_slug ][] = $new_sub_menu;
 		} else {
 			// Test for a negative position.
diff --git a/wp-includes/version.php b/wp-includes/version.php
index 0459d663c2..84b3629bae 100644
--- a/wp-includes/version.php
+++ b/wp-includes/version.php
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
  *
  * @global string $wp_version
  */
-$wp_version = '5.3.1-alpha-46867';
+$wp_version = '5.3.1-alpha-46869';
 
 /**
  * Holds the WordPress DB revision, increments when changes are made to the WordPress DB schema.